Client

A Power Sector OEM
in the USA

Industry

Design, Power Generation Systems

Challenge

The Curtis-Wright 1820 engine {9 cylinder} was at the heart of many famous aircraft, including early Douglas airliners, during the 1930s-1950s. With technological advancements and obsolescence of the same, the client wanted to refurbish the existing one, and use it for the purpose of power generation. It had to be achieved by structural modification, replacement of key components and improvement in terms of efficiency, cooling, compactness, lightweight etc.

 

An engineering analysis of the design was required to verify design goals by leveraging the modern state-of-the-art simulation environment. Timetooth with its expertise in MBD analysis, thermal+CFD simulations, partnered to assess the design & performance parameters and suggest necessary modifications.

Service Area

Advanced Engineering Simulations

Timeline

September 2021 to June 2022

casestudy_radialengineanalysis_01
casestudy_radialengineanalysis_02

With its expertise in MBD analysis and thermal+CFD simulations, Timetooth partnered to assess the design and performance parameters.

Key Engineering Solutions

1. For the design of key components such as bearings, Timetooth used Altair Motionview for MBD analysis to predict loads, rpm, load fluctuations, for a given amount of fuel intake.

2. For optimizing cooling performance, advanced CFD and thermal analysis was done.

3. With the help of Engine Analyzer, the engine performance parameters were predicted and sensitivity studies for variables were done for different fuel types like gasoline, natural gas etc.

Solutions

• For the design of key components such as bearings, Timetooth used Altair Motionview for MBD analysis to predict loads, rpm, load fluctuations, for a given amount of fuel intake. The simulation study also included structural compliance.

• For optimizing its cooling performance, advanced CFD and thermal analysis was done to predict pressure contours, velocity contours of coolant fluid and temperature variation.

• The engine structure as well as the coolant was meshed, maintaining the benchmarked quality and analysis was done with the required boundary conditions of flow rate and temperatures.

• Furthermore, for the required main bearing pressure, the coolant flow rate was also analyzed/ simulated.

• With the help of Engine Analyzer, the engine performance parameters were predicted and sensitivity studies for variables such as compression ratio, inlet fuel temperature, flow rate, turbo-charging etc. were done for different fuel types like gasoline, natural gas etc.

• Simulation results were then interpreted for selecting joint bearings, flywheel design, optimum coolant flow rate and structural modifications. Additionally, the effect of various parameters like the change of fuel intake, coolant flow rate, compression ratio etc. on the performance of the radial engine were analysed.

• Assessment of simulation results were done and specific design directions were shared with the client.

Key Highlights

    ROI for the client

    Client was able to improve the design variables for meeting the overall performance goals.

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